As the sun began to set on Blackwell Forest Preserve, a group of hikers and naturalist with the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County David Andrusyk set out for a three-mile hike, hoping they would see a full moon.
“Because of the summer solstice we are actually not going to be completely dark by the end but most full moon hikes do go after dark so you’ll be in the preserve after it’s closed,” said Andrusyk.
The after-hours hikes came about after the preserve received requests for more evening programs for adults.
The pace is meant to be slower, so hikers can stop to smell the flowers, take pictures, and ask questions about the preserve.
“The beauty is it’s light when we start and gets darker and darker and your eyes slowly adjust you actually get to see a lot more than you’d think,” explained Andrusyk.
And when your eyes adjust, you’re rewarded with beautiful nighttime views like hundreds of dancing fireflies and of course, the moon.
You can check the forest preserve’s website to see when and where the next hikes are happening.
Naperville News 17’s Blane Erwin reports.
